Radiator shield and bracket



Nov. 20, 1934. T. v. BALCH RADIATOR SHIELD AND BRACKET Filed Oct. 26, 1931 L117 7/?0M4JM3A2cH-INVENTOR.

Illllllllllli 5%, m 1* $1 I ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 20, 1934 its stares RADIATOR SHIELD AND BRACKET Application October 26, 1931, Serial No. 571,021

Claims.

This invention relates to radiator shields and brackets for application to the ordinary type of cast iron radiators. It is frequently desirable to place a covering over the top of a radiator which 5 will serve the triple purpose of a balfle to divert the rising warm air outwardly and thus prevent soiling of walls and draperies, as a shelf for the convenient placement of decorative objects, and as a mode of concealment for the unsightly radiator. Radiators are made in a variety of sizes both as to length and width and they are placed at variable distances from the adjacent walls. It is desirable that a single size of shield be made which will lit a variety of different sizes of radiators to this end an adjustable telescopic arrangement is frequently provided. Since radiator shields serve as shelves and are sometimes subject to abuse, it is desirable that a substantial bracket be provided which will hold the shield securely in any desired position with respect to the radiator so that the rear edge of the shield will abut the wall and thus divert the dust laden hot air out. Since many radiators particularly of the older types have rounded tops, it is desirable that provision be made to prevent rocking of the shield on top of the radiator. It is further desirable that provision be made for supporting the shield thruout its length, particularly when the shield is extended.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, th n, consists of the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail but one of the various ways in which the .ciples of the invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing:- Fig. I is a perspective drawing of a bracket with Fig. II is a sectional a strap assembled thereto. View thru the smaller portion of an adjustable iator shield showing the bracket and strap as assembled to a round top radiator, the latter being shown in contour in heavy dotted line. Fig. III is a sectional view thru the larger portion of an adjustable radiator shield shown assembled with the bracket to a flat top radiator, the latter being shown in contour in heavy dotted line. Fig. IV is a plan view of an adjustable radiator shield.

In the form illustrated, the radiator shield consists of two portions, 21 and 31, which interfit and are slidably adjustable. I prefer to draw each of the portions of the shield from a single piece of sheet metal to provide rounded edge portions, 22 and 32, and rounded corners, 41. The lower edge of the inner portion is provided with a flange or bead, 23, and the lower edge of the outer portion is provided with a flange, 33, so contoured as slidably to receive the bead, 23, of the inner portion. The inner portion is of slightly less width and less height than the outer portion so that it will slide readily therewithin. The brackets, 10, are conveniently stamped up of sheet metal to present upper flat portions, 11; a depressed zone, 12; downwardly extending flanges, 13, having bossed projections, 14; and, retrorsely bent flanges, 15. The depressed zone, 12, is provided with a series of slotted holes, 16, the purpose of which will more fully at large appear. The upper U flat portion is provided with a series of notches,

with the flat portions, 11, resting on top of the adjacent sections of the radiator and the depressed zones, 12, projecting downwardly between two adjacent sections. The bracket is positioned with respect to the radiator so that one end of the bracket is a fraction of an inch from the adjacent wall. It will thus be seen that the brackets are seldom, if ever, centrally disposed with respect to the radiator. If the radiator has a rounded top, the tabs, 18, are bent downwardly as at 19 to con form to its contour. Any of the tabs may be thus bent downwardly as required and since the conformation of the bracket provides great strength, it is made of very light gage metal thereby permitting such tabs to be bent downwardly with the fingers.

The strap, S, is inserted thru the slots, 16, looped under a convenient portion of the radiator and brot back thru another of the slots, 16. Any two of the series of slots may be selected in order to position the bracket properly with respect to the radiator. A screw, 24, is inserted to draw the ends of the strap, S, together and thereby clamp the bracket to the radiator, such screw being inserted thru such of the holes, H, as are most convenient.

Any excess portion of a strap extending above the bracket may be readily bent down to lie wholly within the depressed zone.

The radiator shield is placed over the brackets and is positioned by the flanges, 13, thereof. The

bead, 23, of the inner portion is adapted to snap over the embossed projection, 14, and the flange,

33, of the outer portion of the shield will snap be-J hind the retrorse flange, 15, of the bracket. It will thus be seen that the same bracket is adapted to retain either the larger outer portion or the smaller inner portion of the shield and that the assemblage is substantialand secure. Since the flat portion, ll, of the bracket rests directly on the radiator in all cases, the shield is separated from the radiator by only a single thickness of.

light gage metal, and if the portion of the shield between the brackets sags a few thousandths of an inch, it will be supported by that part of the radiator between the brackets.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards details disclosed provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A radiator cover, comprising a bracket, means for securing said bracket to a radiator, said bracket being adapted to sit transversely of said radiator, in a plurality of positions with respect to such radiator and having a series of holes spaced longitudinally of said bracket, said means includ ing a strap adapted to be looped through the radiator and passed through any two of such holes as required to position the bracket securely with respect to the radiator; a screw for tightening such strap into clamping position with respect to said bracket and radiator, a shield disposed over said bracket and means for holding the shield to the bracket. 1

2. A radiator cover, comprising a bracket for securement to a flat top or round top radiator in a plurality of positions with respect to such radiator; means to prevent rocking of the bracket on the radiator, such means including a series of notches in the edges of-said bracket and bentdown tabs between at least one pair of such notches; means to secure the bracket to such radiator; an adjustable shield comprising two interfitting portions; and means for holding the shield to the bracket, including a snap-on connection.

3. A radiator cover comprising a sheet metal bracket for securement to a radiator, such bracket being adapted to sit transversely of a radiator and to be supported by adjacent sectionsthereof; a depressed zone arranged longitudinally in such bracket adapted to extend downwardly between sections of the radiator; a series of oppositely disposed projecting tongues on the edges of such bracket; a series of holes spaced along the bottom of the depressed zone; downward flanges at either end of said bracket and retrorse' flanges at the ends of such downward flanges, a shield to go over said bracket; and means on said shield engaging said retrorse flanges for holding the shield to the bracket.

4. A radiator cover comprising a sheet metal bracket for securementto a radiator, such bracket being adapted to sit transversely of a radiator and to be supported by adjacent sections thereof;

a depressed zone arranged longitudinally in such bracket adapted to extend downwardly between sections of the radiator; a series of oppositely disposed projecting tongues on the edges of such bracket; a series of holes spaced along the bottom of the depressed zone; downward flanges at either end of said bracket and embossedprojections on such downward flanges, a shield to go over said bracket; and means on said shield engaging said projections for holding the shield to the bracket.

5. A radiator cover comprising a sheet metal bracket for securement to a radiator, such bracket being adapted to sit transversely of a radiator and to be supported by adjacent sections thereof;

a depressed zone arranged longitudinally in such bracket adapted to extend downwardly between sections of the radiator; a series of oppositely disposed projecting tongues on the edges of such bracket; a series of holes spaced along the bottom of the depressed zone; a shield composed of telescoped inner and outer portions to go over said bracket; and downward flanges at either end of said bracket and embossed projections on such downward flanges, means on said inner portion engaging said projections for resiliently securing the inner portion of'the shield to said bracket and retrorse flanges on said outer portion for resiliently securing the outer portion to said bracket.

THOMAS V. BALCH. 

